This way you can hang your toilet roll holder at the perfect height
- , through Inge | Bath&Living
- 6 min read
When building or renovating your house, it might seem like one of the least important chores: hanging a toilet roll holder. The toilet is just a small room in the house, after all, and as long as there is a toilet roll holder, it's fine. WRONG! Just think about how often you use a simple toilet accessory like a toilet roll holder. And during your toilet visits, you don't want to compromise on comfort. That is why it is important to pay attention to the ideal toilet roll holder to choose and hang them carefully in the right way.
The ideal height for a toilet roll holder
An important question in this regard is: At what height should you hang a toilet roll holder? There is no single specific answer to this, as it depends partly on your preference, the layout of the room, and the height of your toilet bowl. Fortunately, this also means that a deviation of a centimeter or two here and there is not a major disaster. You want to be able to easily reach the toilet paper from a comfortable sitting position, without having to bend down or reach.
On average, the ideal height of a toilet roll holder is between 65 and 80 cm. That is to say: measured from the floor to the center of the toilet roll holder. The choice of the actual height of your toilet roll holder is up to you, based on your specific situation.
Do you have small children? Then it is easier for them if the toilet roll hangs on the lower side. However, keep in mind that being too close to the ground not only looks odd in the room, but is also less hygienic because the toilet paper could touch the floor.
Are you and your housemates tall? Then it is more comfortable to hang the toilet roll holder a little higher, for example at 80 cm. However, it is also possible that you chose a raised toilet bowl precisely because of your own height. In that case, the ideal height of your toilet roll holder will also be somewhat higher.
On which side of the toilet to attach?
When you are hanging your toilet roll holder, also consider the side where you want your toilet paper. In a toilet room, you often have a choice because the toilet is situated between two walls. In the bathroom, however, the situation can be different. Perhaps the toilet bowl is only close to one wall, or there is a bathroom cabinet next to your toilet. In that case, the choice is essentially already made for you.
If you do have options, the right side might seem like the most logical place because most people are right-handed. However, that does not mean left-handed people will have trouble grabbing toilet paper. Certainly not when you have consciously determined the ideal height. The reverse is also true; a toilet roll holder can hang perfectly well on the left if you are right-handed.
So, you can also look at it purely from an aesthetic point of view. When you walk into the room, where do you want your eye to fall, and what does that mean for the placement of your toilet paper? Do you hang the toilet roll holder right next to the sink so you don't have to drill into the wall on both sides? Or do you find that looks too cluttered and would you rather distribute the toilet accessories throughout the room? Also consider whether you want to hang a spare roll holder on the wall and what the overall look will be like. Another option is to store extra toilet rolls in a storage basket or on a freestanding spare roll holder.
Do you have too little space or no wall at all next to your toilet, but still want a wall-mounted toilet roll holder? Then choose a spot on the same wall as the toilet bowl, so that the toilet roll holder hangs behind you.We advise keeping sufficient distance between the toilet and the roll holder so that you do not have to turn around too much to reach the toilet paper. Be sure to sit on the toilet for a moment and turn around to get a feel for what a comfortable spot is.
Distance to the toilet bowl
The height of the toilet roll holder is important, but the distance to the toilet bowl must also be taken into account when wall-mounting your toilet roll holder. After all, you don't want to have to reach for the toilet paper. However, having to bend your arm because the roll holder hangs too close isn't comfortable either.
So where should you hang your toilet roll holder? On average, maintain a distance of 25 centimeters from the front of the toilet bowl. This can also be 5 centimeters more or less without becoming uncomfortable. When making this choice, also consider whether you have small children (preferably a little closer) or are taller than average (preferably a little more distance from the bowl). Do note, however: above-average height and distance reinforce each other. So if you opt for the maximum in both cases, shorter guests might have more difficulty reaching the toilet paper.
Alternatives: free-standing toilet roll holders
We are discussing hanging toilet roll holders here as if that were the standard. But what if you don't want to drill holes in the wall? Or if you don't want to start wall mounting at all? Fortunately, there are other options. For example, toilet roll holders that you can glue to the wall. However, do check carefully beforehand whether both your toilet roll holder and your wall are suitable for this. For instance, we recommend always drilling into a plastered wall, and gluing might not be suitable for wall tiles with a lot of relief due to concerns about durability. In some cases, you will need an extra wall bracket to successfully glue your toilet accessories to the wall. This is always stated in the product description.
A beautiful and practical alternative to wall mounting is a free-standing toilet roll holder. This can be a single roll holder, like the one in the photo on the right above. This is ideal for use as a spare roll holder, but also as a standard toilet roll holder. In that case, just make sure to always place a number of spare rolls of toilet paper underneath, so that the roll hangs a little higher when in use. Another, more comfortable option is a toilet roll holder where both the "open" roll and the spare rolls can be placed on the same luxurious stand. This is also available in the form of a toilet butler, where the toilet brush holder is located underneath the toilet roll holder.
